ATVs allowed in Grand Coulee

You will be able to drive “street ready” ATVs in Grand Coulee beginning May 31.

Grand Coulee’s city council approved an ordinance last Tuesday night that allows all-terrain vehicles on city streets and on state highways, as long as they have the appropriate equipment.

The council took a page — in fact, took the entire ordinance — from Electric City, and passed it without fanfare.

Two area citizens — Bill Moore, from Grand Coulee, and Ron Pulsipher, of Electric City — spoke before the council voted, encouraging the elected officials to OK the ordinance. The two shook hands after the council vote, which was 5-0.

Pulsipher had appeared earlier before the Electric City council to try to get council members there interested in ATV travel between their city and Grand Coulee.

There were some misgivings, though, in Grand Coulee’s council. Councilmember Tammara Byers expressed concern about the ATVs and the huge trucks that flow through the city. But in the end, she voted for the ordinance.

City Clerk Carol Boyce said the ordinance would go into effect five days after the notice is published, which would make it May 31.

Moore had appeared before the Grand Coulee council before. He responded to some of the comments and stated, “You can’t legislate stupidity,” referring to how ATV drivers might react when they ride on city streets and highways.

For Moore and Pulsipher, the easy part is over. Now they will have to find a way to get Electric City on board and the state Department of Transportation to alter the 45 mph speed limit north of Coulee Playland, so ATVs can travel between the two cities. The maximum speed you can go in an ATV, according to regulations, is 35 mph.

Starting at the causeway, heading south of Electric City, the speed is 50 mph. It’s 35 mph through Electric City. Then it is 45 mph from Coulee Playland to the four-corners intersection of highways 155 and 174 in Grand Coulee, where it turns to 30 mph.